2015 Ducati Monster 821 Specs | A Mid-Size Il Mostro

When Miguel Angel Galluzzi first approached Ducati with some sketches of the Monster, the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer considered the design a risk.

But Galluzzi persisted, and Ducati finally approved. And when the debut Monster (M900) was unveiled for the 1993 model year, the naked motorcycle that exposed its trellis frame was an immediate favorite.

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The bike helped birth many new “Ducatisti,” and also saved Ducati from financial turmoil while under the Cagiva Group (1985-1996).

The Monster went through a few iterations, including the M400, M600, M750, S4R, S2R, and the US-based models that have been offered since 2010 – the 696, 796 and 1100. Through the early part of 2014, over 290,000 Monsters were sold, making it Ducati’s best-ever seller.

Things are changing in the world of Il Mostro; Ducati revamped its top seller for its 21st birthday, releasing the Monster 1200 and 1200 S. The major differences between the 1200 and the 2013 1100EVO? The new 1200s arrive with the same Testastretta 11-degree Dual-Spark engine offered in the Diavel and Multistrada, and, like the Panigale 1199, the engine is a fully-stressed member of the trellis frame.

It was only a matter of time before Ducati offered a smaller version, and this arrived last month with the 2015 Monster 821. What Ducati did was take the base-model 1200’s chassis, and stuff it with the 112-horsepower 821cc Testastretta 11-degree engine transplanted from the Hypermotard line.

And to remain competitive in the world of nakeds, the Monster 821 features the latest in Ducati electronics, including an eight-level traction control, three-level ABS and three-level Ride-by-Wire all incorporated into the press-button Riding Modes.

The bike arrives with a Sachs inverted fork and mono shock, a dry-weight of 395.7 lbs., a Sachs, and, helping to keep the price lower, a dual-sided swing arm – a cost philosophy learned from Panigale 1199/899 models.

The smaller version will likely attract loads of future Ducatisti due to its starting MSRP of $10,995 (likely the Dark Price) – $2,500 cheaper than the base 1200, $5,000 cheaper than the 1200S.

The 2015 Ducati Monster will be available in July 2014 in Ducati Red or Star White Silk; both models feature color-matched rear seat covers. Ducati will also offer a Monster 821 Dark that features Dark Stealth black paint with a black frame and black wheels. Following are the full specs of Ducati’s latest Monster.

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